Still one of the best

by Jim Trageser
This review first appeared in the September 23, 1988 issue of the San Diego Evening Tribune.

If only we could keep our beloved musicians forever. But Dizzy Gillespie is 70 now, and clearly not going to live forever – making every project he does that much more precious. So the fact that his latest project, the album "Endlessly," is a fine album by any standard is a special treat for jazz fans.

The best tune may be "Goodbye, El Barrio," a mambo-style piece that reflects Gillespie's long interest in Latin music. Producer T. Brooks Shepard goes a little heavy on the strings, but Gillespie's playing, along with that of pianist Barry Eastmond, is sterling.

Other highlights include personalized version of Stevie Wonder's "Moments Aren't Moments" and Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times," with a fine vocal by David Peaston. On a 10-minute version of Marvin Gaye's "Save the Children," Gillespie shows he still has the chops to stretch out on improvised solos.

While Gillespie's live performances have been a bit uneven of late as time catches up with him, when he is given the time to get things the way he wants in the studio, Gillespie remains one of the best horn players on the scene.